Etiologies of Persistent Aminotransferase Elevations in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Nucleos(t)ide Analogs.

Background/Aims: Recent studies revealed that patients with persistent aminotransferase elevations after antiviral treatment had higher risk of hepatic events; yet its underlying causes remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the etiologies of persistent aminotransferase elevations in patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had been receiving NA treatment for over a year and had an aminotransferase level greater than 40 IU/mL (more than twice, with a 3-month interval) and subsequently underwent a liver biopsy. Results: The study group included 46 patients (34 males) with a mean age of 44.8 ± 20.3 years (range: 24-71 years).The average dura- tion of NA therapy was 3.7 years (1.1-10.6 years). The etiologies of persistant transaminase elevation were categorized into 4 groups: patients with low hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load (LVL, n = 11); concurrent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, n = 12); concurrent other liver diseases (OLD, n = 12); and unknown liver dysfunction (ULD, n = 11). The proportion of G ≥ 2 inflammation was significantly higher in the LVL group (90.9%) compared to NAFLD (33.3%), OLD (50%), and ULD (27.2%) groups (P = .012). The hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive group exhibited a younger age (34.5 ± 10.2 vs. 48.1 ± 9.4 years, P < .001), a lower proportion of fibrosis F ≥ 2 (36.3% vs. 77.1%, P = .012), and a higher prevalence of detectable HBV DNA (54.5% vs.14.2%, P = .00632) compared to the HBeAg-negative group. Conclusion: The etiology of persistent aminotransferase elevations in CHB patients undergoing NAs treatment warrants investigation. Besides the commonly observed NAFLD and low HBV viral load, concurrent presence of other liver diseases requires elucidation.The proportion of G≥2 inflammation was higher in the LVL group.

Functional Characterization of the Paeonia ostii P5CS Gene under Drought Stress.

With persistent elevation in global temperature, water scarcity becomes a major threat to plant growth and development, yield security, agricultural sustainability, and food production. Proline, as a key osmolyte and antioxidant, plays a critical role in regulating drought tolerance in plants, especially its key biosynthetic enzyme, delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), which always positively responds to drought stress. As an important woody oil crop, the expansion of Paeonia ostii cultivation needs to address the issue of plant drought tolerance. Here, we isolated a PoP5CS gene from P. ostii, with an open reading frame of 1842 bp encoding 613 amino acids. PoP5CS expression progressively increased in response to increasing drought stress, and it was localized in the cytoplasm. Silencing of PoP5CS in P. ostii reduced drought tolerance, accompanied by decreased proline content, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and increased relative electrical conductivity (REC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conversely, overexpression of PoP5CS in Nicotiana tabacum plants enhanced drought resistance, manifested by increased proline levels, reduced ROS accumulation, and lower REC and MDA contents. This study isolates PoP5CS from P. ostii and validates its role in regulating drought tolerance, providing valuable genetic resources and theoretical insights for the development of drought-resistant P. ostii cultivars.

Does the internal surface treatment technique for enhanced bonding affect the color, transparency, and surface roughness of ultra-transparent zirconia?

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of different surface treatments and thicknesses on the color, transparency, and surface roughness of ultra-transparent zirconia. METHODS: A total of 120 Katana ultra-translucent multi-layered zirconia specimens were divided into 12 groups according to the thickness (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mm) and surface treatment (control, airborne particle abrasion [APA], lithium disilicate coating, and glaze on). Color difference (ΔE00) and relative translucency parameter (RTP00) were calculated using a digital spectrophotometer. The surface roughness (Ra, Rq, Sa, and Sq) was measured using a non-contact profile scanner. The surface morphologies and microstructures of the samples were observed using a tungsten filament scanning electron microscope. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc multiple comparisons and Pearson's correlation (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed that the surface treatment, ceramic thickness, and their interactions had significant effects on ΔE00 and RTP00 (p < 0.001). The surface treatment significantly altered the micromorphology and increased the surface roughness of the ceramic samples. APA exhibited the lowest transparency, largest color difference, and highest surface roughness. Zirconia with 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm thicknesses showed strong negative correlations between Sa and RTP00. CONCLUSIONS: The three internal surface treatments significantly altered the surface roughness, color difference, and transparency of ultra-transparent zirconia. As the thickness increased, the influence of the inner surface treatment on the color difference and transparency of zirconia decreased. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For new zirconia internal surface treatment technologies, in addition to considering the enhancement effect on the bonding properties, the potential effects on the color and translucency of high-transparency zirconia should also be considered. Appropriately increasing the thickness of zirconia restorations helps minimize the effect of surface treatment on the optical properties.

Engineering the Blackbody Absorption of the Au-Branch-on-Au-Plate Heterostructures.

Utilizing the strong ligand control effects of l-cysteine (l-Cys), the growth of Au on Au triangular nanoplate (AuTN) seeds was continuously tuned from layer-by-layer (the Frank-van der Merwe) to layer-plus-island (the Stranski-Krastanov), and island (the Volmer-Weber) growth modes, leading to the formation of a series of Au-on-AuTN heterostructures. Within the window of VW growth mode (featured by the growth of Au spikes and branches on AuTNs), the effective localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) coupling led to the selective strengthening of the "valley" absorptions, leading to smooth and flat absorption curves. Interestingly, through engineering the number/density, size, and branching degree of the Au branches, except for the black color, full spectrum absorption within 400-1300 nm wavelength was achieved on Au-branch-on-AuTN structures. Mechanistic studies revealed that the blackbody absorption property of the Au-branch-on-AuTN originates from the well-balanced intraparticle LSPR couplings among the neighboring Au branches. The tunable blackness and the full spectrum absorption property made the Au-branch-on-AuTN heterostructure a suitable candidate for various plasmonic-related applications, such as a wide spectrum light absorber, photoacoustic imaging contrast agent, and photothermal therapy medium. In addition, our strong ligand control in Au-branch-on-AuTN heterostructures could be extended to other hybrid systems with diverse material combinations, so long as to find the proper strong ligand.

A Water Environment-Based Simulated Method for Ultrasonic Testing of Slag Inclusion Weld Defects Based on Improved VMD.

The identification of slag inclusion defects in welds is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing the integrity, safety, and prolonged service life of welded structures. Most research focuses on different kinds of weld defects, but branch research on categories of slag inclusion material is limited and critical for safeguarding the quality of engineering and the well-being of personnel. To address this issue, we design a simulated method using ultrasonic testing to identify the inclusion of material categories in austenitic stainless steel. It is based on a simulated experiment in a water environment, and six categories of cubic specimens, including four metallic and two non-metallic materials, are selected to simulate the slag materials of the inclusion defects. Variational mode decomposition optimized by particle swarm optimization is employed for ultrasonic signals denoising. Moreover, the phase spectrum of the denoised signal is utilized to extract the phase characteristic of the echo signal from the water-slag specimen interface. The experimental results show that our method has the characteristics of appropriate decomposition and good denoising performance. Compared with famous signal denoising algorithms, the proposed method extracted the lowest number of intrinsic mode functions from the echo signal with the highest signal-to-noise ratio and lowest normalized cross-correlation among all of the comparative algorithms in signal denoising of weld slag inclusion defects. Finally, the phase spectrum can ascertain whether the slag inclusion is a thicker or thinner medium compared with the weld base material based on the half-wave loss existing or not in the echo signal phase.

Multi-stage 3D-printed guide for precise restoration of severely inclined teeth based on target restorative space guidance: a case report.

In clinical dentistry, addressing unique conditions such as tilted, elongated, and torsion teeth during preparation can be effectively managed through digital tooth morphology design. The production of a multi-stage 3D-printed guide offered a more efficient and accurate solution. This article presented a case of significant inclination, elongation, and torsion in the maxillary and mandibular canines that were successfully treated using crown restoration modification. A crown preparation guide was fabricated based on the final form design of the restoration using the target restorative space analysis technique to ensure precise tooth preparation. A tooth preparation guide was also designed and utilized further to enhance accuracy and efficiency during complex tooth preparation. The combined application of these multi-stage guides demonstrated promising clinical prospects.

PoWRKY69-PoVQ11 module positively regulates drought tolerance by accumulating fructose in Paeonia ostii.

Drought is a detrimental environmental factor that restricts plant growth and threatens food security throughout the world. WRKY transcription factors play vital roles in abiotic stress response. However, the roles of IIe subgroup members from WRKY transcription factor family in soluble sugar mediated drought response are largely elusive. In this study, we identified a drought-responsive IIe subgroup WRKY transcription factor, PoWRKY69, from Paeonia ostii. PoWRKY69 functioned as a positive regulator in response to drought stress with nucleus expression and transcriptional activation activity. Silencing of PoWRKY69 increased plants sensitivity to drought stress, whereas conversely, overexpression of PoWRKY69 enhanced drought tolerance in plants. As revealed by yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and luciferase reporter assays, PoWRKY69 could directly bind to the W-box element of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase 5 (PoFBA5) promoter, contributing to a cascade regulatory network to activate PoFBA5 expression. Furthermore, virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression assays demonstrated that PoFBA5 functioned positively in response to drought stress by accumulating fructose to alleviate membrane lipid peroxidation and activate antioxidant defense system, these changes resulted in reactive oxygen species scavenging. According to yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and firefly luciferase complementation imaging assays, valine-glutamine 11 (PoVQ11) physically interacted with PoWRKY69 and led to an enhanced activation of PoWRKY69 on PoFBA5 promoter activity. This study broadens our understanding of WRKY69-VQ11 module regulated fructose accumulation in response to drought stress and provides feasible molecular measures to create novel drought-tolerant germplasm of P. ostii.

Precision dose prediction for breast cancer patients undergoing IMRT: The Swin-UMamba-Channel Model.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy is one of the crucial treatment modalities for cancer. An excellent radiation therapy plan relies heavily on an outstanding dose distribution map, which is traditionally generated through repeated trials and adjustments by experienced physicists. However, this process is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it comes with a degree of subjectivity. Now, with the powerful capabilities of deep learning, we are able to predict dose distribution maps more accurately, effectively overcoming these challenges. METHODS: In this study, we propose a novel Swin-UMamba-Channel prediction model specifically designed for predicting the dose distribution of patients with left breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy after total mastectomy. This model integrates anatomical position information of organs and ray angle information, significantly enhancing prediction accuracy. Through iterative training of the generator (Swin-UMamba) and discriminator, the model can generate images that closely match the actual dose, assisting physicists in quickly creating DVH curves and shortening the treatment planning cycle. Our model exhibits excellent performance in terms of prediction accuracy, computational efficiency, and practicality, and its effectiveness has been further verified through comparative experiments with similar networks. RESULTS: The results of the study indicate that our model can accurately predict the clinical dose of breast cancer patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The predicted dose range is from 0 to 50 Gy, and compared with actual data, it shows a high accuracy with an average Dice similarity coefficient of 0.86. Specifically, the average dose change rate for the planning target volume ranges from 0.28 % to 1.515 %, while the average dose change rates for the right and left lungs are 2.113 % and 0.508 %, respectively. Notably, due to their small sizes, the heart and spinal cord exhibit relatively higher average dose change rates, reaching 3.208 % and 1.490 %, respectively. In comparison with similar dose studies, our model demonstrates superior performance. Additionally, our model possesses fewer parameters, lower computational complexity, and shorter processing time, further enhancing its practicality and efficiency. These findings provide strong evidence for the accuracy and reliability of our model in predicting doses, offering significant technical support for IMRT in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: This study presents a novel Swin-UMamba-Channel dose prediction model, and its results demonstrate its precise prediction of clinical doses for the target area of left breast cancer patients undergoing total mastectomy and IMRT. These remarkable achievements provide valuable reference data for subsequent plan optimization and quality control, paving a new path for the application of deep learning in the field of radiation therapy.

A Rapid Localization Method Based on Super Resolution Magnetic Array Information for Unknown Number Magnetic Sources.

A rapid method that uses super-resolution magnetic array data is proposed to localize an unknown number of magnets in a magnetic array. A magnetic data super-resolution (SR) neural network was developed to improve the resolution of a magnetic sensor array. The approximate 3D positions of multiple targets were then obtained based on the normalized source strength (NSS) and magnetic gradient tensor (MGT) inversion. Finally, refined inversion of the position and magnetic moment was performed using a trust region reflective algorithm (TRR). The effectiveness of the proposed method was examined using experimental field data collected from a magnetic sensor array. The experimental results showed that all the targets were successfully captured in multiple trials with three to five targets with an average positioning error of less than 3 mm and an average time of less than 300 ms.

Effect of the coloring liquid shade and dipping time on the color, transparency, and flexural strength of monolithic zirconia.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The impact of different coloring liquid shades and dipping times on the color, transparency, and flexural strength of monolithic zirconia ceramics is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of different coloring liquid shades (A2, 3M2, and 5M2) and dipping times (no dipping, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 90 seconds) on the color difference (ΔE00), relative translucency parameter (ΔRTP00), and 3-point flexural strength (σ) of monolithic zirconia ceramics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Yttria-stabilized zirconia (3Y-TZP, 3 mol%) was cut into Ø16×1.2-mm plates (n=10) and 25×4×1.2-mm bars (n=15), which were colored using 3 shades of coloring liquid at 4 dipping times. Color coordinates were measured on a gray background by using a digital spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere attachment. The color and translucency differences were evaluated using 50:50% perceptibility (PT00 and TPT00) and acceptability (AT00 and TAT00) thresholds. The 3-point flexural strengths of the bar-shaped specimens were measured using a universal testing machine and analyzed using the Weibull distribution to calculate the Weibull modulus (m) and characteristic fracture strength (σ0). The data were analyzed with the 2-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and LSD post hoc tests (α=.05). RESULTS: Both shade and dipping time significantly affected the color and translucency of monolithic zirconia (P<.001). The ΔE00 was above the PT00 for all groups, with only 3M2-90 and A2-60 being below the AT00. The main cause of color differences was the difference in lightness. Only A2 showed ΔRTP00 below the TPT00 (A2-30 (ΔRTP00=0.26), A2-60 (ΔRTP00=0.29), and A2-90 (ΔRTP00=0.46)). All experimental groups showed translucency differences below TAT00. In addition, only the dipping time had a significant effect on the flexural strength of zirconia (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The optical properties of monolithic zirconia ceramics were affected by the shade and dipping time of the coloring liquid. The mismatch in lightness was the main reason for the color difference. The dipping time affects the flexural strength of monolithic zirconia, whereas the shade of the coloring liquid did not seem to influence flexural strength.

Cynaroside improved depressive-like behavior in CUMS mice by suppressing microglial inflammation and ferroptosis.

Depression is a common mental health disorder, and in recent years, the incidence of various forms of depression has been on the rise. Most medications for depression are highly dependency-inducing and can lead to relapse upon discontinuation. Therefore, novel treatment modalities and therapeutic targets are urgently required. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers advantages in the treatment of depression owing to its multi-target, multi-dimensional approach that addresses the root cause of depression by regulating organ functions and balancing Yin and Yang, with minimal side effects. Cynaroside (CNS), an extract from the traditional Chinese herb honeysuckle, is a flavonoid compound with antioxidant properties. In this study, network pharmacology identified 44 potential targets of CNS associated with depression and several highly correlated inflammatory signaling pathways. CNS alleviated LPS-induced M1 polarization and the release of inflammatory factors in BV-2 cells. Transcriptomic analysis and validation revealed that CNS reduced inflammatory polarization, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis via the IRF1/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway. In vivo experiments showed that CNS treatment had effects similar to those of fluoxetine (FLX). It effectively ameliorated anxiety-, despair-, and anhedonia-like states in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced mice and reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus. Thus, we conclude that CNS exerts its therapeutic effect on depression by inhibiting microglial cells from polarizing into the M1 phenotype and reducing inflammation and ferroptosis levels. This study provides further evidence that CNS is a potential antidepressant, offering new avenues for the treatment of depression.

Stop codon variant in EFEMP1 is associated with primary open-angle glaucoma due to impaired regulation of aqueous humor outflow.

It is known that the actin cytoskeleton and its associated cellular interactions in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and juxtacanalicular tissues mainly contribute to the formation of resistance to aqueous outflow of the eye. Fibulin-3, encoded by EFEMP1 gene, has a role in extracellular matrix (ECM) modulation, and interacts with enzymatic ECM regulators, but the effects of fibulin-3 on TM cells has not been explored. Here, we report a stop codon variant (c.T1480C, p.X494Q) of EFEMP1 that co-segregates with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in a Chinese pedigree. In the human TM cells, overexpression of wild-type fibulin-3 reduced intracellular actin stress fibers formation and the extracellular fibronectin levels by inhibiting Rho/ROCK signaling. TGFß1 up-regulated fibulin-3 protein levels in human TM cells by activating Rho/ROCK signaling. In rat eyes, overexpression of wild-type fibulin-3 decreased the intraocular pressure and the fibronectin expression of TM, however, overexpression of mutant fibulin-3 (c.T1480C, p.X494Q) showed opposite effects in cells and rat eyes. Taken together, the EFEMP1 variant may impair the regulatory capacity of fibulin-3 which has a role for modulating the cell contractile activity and ECM synthesis in TM cells, and in turn may maintain normal resistance of aqueous humor outflow. This study contributes to the understanding of the important role of fibulin-3 in TM pathophysiology and provides a new possible POAG therapeutic approach.

Integrated Optimization of Structure and Control for Fast Steering Mirrors.

This study concerns the problem of integrated optimization of structure and control based on a fast steering mirror, aiming to achieve simultaneous optimization of the mechanical structure and control system. The traditional research and development path of the fast steering mirror involves a lengthy process from the initial design to the final physical manufacture. In the prior process, it was necessary to produce physical prototypes for repeated debugging and iterative optimization to achieve design requirements, but this approach consumes a significant amount of time and cost. To expedite this process and reduce unnecessary experimental costs, this study proposes an integrated optimization of structure and control (IOSC) method. With the use of IOSC, it is possible to achieve simultaneous optimization of structure and control. Specifically, the use of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) obtains globally optimal controller parameters and mechanical structure parameters under certain performance indices. This achieves an effective balance between the resonance frequency generated by the system and the working bandwidth, providing a high-precision reference for the research and development of fast steering mirrors.

Two-Orders-of-Magnitude Enhancement of Photoinitiation Activity via a Simple Surface Engineering of Metal Nanoclusters.

Development of high-performance photoinitiator is the key to enhance the printing speed, structure resolution and product quality in 3D laser printing. Here, to improve the printing efficiency of 3D laser nanoprinting, we investigate the underlying photochemistry of gold and silver nanocluster initiators under multiphoton laser excitation. Experimental results and DFT calculations reveal the high cleavage probability of the surface S-C bonds in gold and silver nanoclusters which generate multiple radicals. Based on this understanding, we design several alkyl-thiolated gold nanoclusters and achieve a more than two-orders-of-magnitude enhancement of photoinitiation activity, as well as a significant improvement in printing resolution and fabrication window. Overall, this work for the first time unveils the detailed radical formation pathways of gold and silver nanoclusters under multiphoton activation and substantially improves their photoinitiation sensitivity via surface engineering, which pushes the limit of the printing efficiency of 3D laser lithography.

Identification of arnicolide C as a novel chemosensitizer to suppress mTOR/E2F1/FANCD2 axis in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays critical roles in intrinsic chemoresistance by regulating Fanconi anaemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) expression. However, the mechanisms by which mTOR regulates FANCD2 expression and related inhibitors are not clearly elucidated. Extracts of Centipeda minima (C. minima) showed promising chemosensitizing effects by inhibiting FANCD2 activity. Here, we have aimed to identify the bioactive chemosensitizer in C. minima extracts and elucidate its underlying mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The chemosensitizing effects of arnicolide C (ArC), a bioactive compound in C. minima, on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were investigated using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, the comet assay, small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection and animal models. The online SynergyFinder software was used to determine the synergistic effects of ArC and chemotherapeutic drugs on NSCLC cells. KEY RESULTS: ArC had synergistic cytotoxic effects with DNA cross-linking drugs such as cisplatin and mitomycin C in NSCLC cells. ArC treatment markedly decreased FANCD2 expression in NSCLC cells, thus attenuating cisplatin-induced FANCD2 nuclear foci formation, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. ArC inhibited the mTOR pathway and attenuated mTOR-mediated expression of E2F1, a critical transcription factor of FANCD2. Co-administration of ArC and cisplatin exerted synergistic anticancer effects in the A549 xenograft mouse model by suppressing mTOR/FANCD2 signalling in tumour tissues. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: ArC suppressed DNA cross-linking drug-induced DNA damage response by inhibiting the mTOR/E2F1/FANCD2 signalling axis, serving as a chemosensitizing agent. This provides insight into the anticancer mechanisms of ArC and offers a potential combinatorial anticancer therapeutic strategy.

Management of Pseudophakic Malignant Glaucoma Using Modified Nd:YAG Laser Treatment Methodology Through Surgical Preset Iridectomy.

INTRODUCTION: The use of the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser to treat malignant glaucoma (MG) has been described in the literature since the 1980s. However, the technique has been reported to have a short-term effect, with a notable relapse rate. In the present study, we report the efficacy and durability of a modified Nd:YAG laser treatment methodology for treatment of pseudophakic or aphakic MG. METHODS: Patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma and deemed at high risk of developing post-operative MG received prophylactic peripheral iridectomy during their conventional operation beginning in 2017. When the diagnosis of pseudophakic or aphakic MG was confirmed, a thorough Nd:YAG laser capsulo/zonulo-hyaloido-vitreolysis (CZHV) was performed through iridectomy, along with standardized pre- and post-laser medications. This retrospective case series includes 14 eyes of 11 patients with MG who had surgical preset iridectomy and modified Nd:YAG laser CZHV between 2017 and 2022. Outcome measures included resolution and recurrence of MG and incidence of treatment complications. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 27.1 ± 15.0 months (range, 12-48). Long-term resolution of MG was obtained in all included eyes at the end of the follow-up. Six eyes (42.9%) achieved long-term resolution with a single Nd:YAG laser intervention. Eight eyes (57.1%) achieved long-term resolution following two to three laser interventions, with two eyes (14.3%) experiencing recurrence. There was no complication during the follow-up. At the final visit, a significant reduction (P = 0.0001) in the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was observed (13.1 ± 2.8 mmHg) compared to presentation (21.4 ± 6.3 mmHg). CONCLUSION: The modified Nd:YAG laser treatment methodology is a minimally invasive option to manage pseudophakic or aphakic MG with sustained effectiveness. Reduced inflammatory reactions due to prophylactic peripheral iridectomy, rapid diagnosis, and timely treatment initiation have all contributed to the favorable outcomes associated with this modified treatment methodology.

PoWRKY71 is involved in Paeonia ostii resistance to drought stress by directly regulating light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding 151 gene.

Although the functions of WRKY transcription factors in drought resistance are well known, their regulatory mechanisms in response to drought by stabilising photosynthesis remain unclear. Here, a differentially expressed PoWRKY71 gene that was highly expressed in drought-treated Paeonia ostii leaves was identified through transcriptome analysis. PoWRKY71 positively responded to drought stress with significantly enhanced expression patterns and overexpressing PoWRKY71 in tobacco greatly improved plant tolerance to drought stress, whereas silencing PoWRKY71 in P. ostii resulted in a drought-intolerant phenotype. Furthermore, lower chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, and inhibited expression of photosynthesis-related light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding 151 (CAB151) gene were found in PoWRKY71-silenced P. ostii. Meanwhile, a homologous system indicated that drought treatment increased PoCAB151 promoter activity. Interactive assays revealed that PoWRKY71 directly bound on the W-box element of PoCAB151 promoter and activated its transcription. In addition, PoCAB151 overexpressing plants demonstrated increased drought tolerance, together with significantly higher chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis, whereas these indices were dramatically lower in PoCAB151-silenced P. ostii. The above results indicated that PoWRKY71 activated the expression of PoCAB151, thus stabilising photosynthesis via regulating chloroplast homeostasis and chlorophyll content in P. ostii under drought stress. This study reveals a novel drought-resistance mechanism in plants and provides a feasible strategy for improving plant drought resistance via stabilising photosynthesis.

On-Surface Synthesis of Novel Kagome Lattices Coordinated via Four-Fold N-Ag Bonding.

The Kagome lattice structures based on metal-organic coordination have garnered widespread interest because of their topologically Dirac/flat bands and other exotic electronic structures. However, the experimental fabrication of large-area two-dimensional (2D) Kagome lattice structures of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) via on-surface synthesis remains limited. Herein, we successfully construct two kinds of large-scale 2D Kagome-type lattices stabilized by 4-fold N-Ag coordination on the Ag(111) surface. With the aid of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES), we clearly elucidate the reaction pathway and mechanism of fabrication of the two Kagome lattices. This work provides a novel platform for investigating related intriguing physical properties.

Research progress in the detection of common foodborne hazardous substances based on functional nucleic acids biosensors.

With the further improvement of food safety requirements, the development of fast, highly sensitive, and portable methods for the determination of foodborne hazardous substances has become a new trend in the food industry. In recent years, biosensors and platforms based on functional nucleic acids, along with a range of signal amplification devices and methods, have been established to enable rapid and sensitive determination of specific substances in samples, opening up a new avenue of analysis and detection. In this paper, functional nucleic acid types including aptamers, deoxyribozymes, and G-quadruplexes which are commonly used in the detection of food source pollutants are introduced. Signal amplification elements include quantum dots, noble metal nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, DNA walkers, and DNA logic gates. Signal amplification technologies including nucleic acid isothermal amplification, hybridization chain reaction, catalytic hairpin assembly, biological barcodes, and microfluidic system are combined with functional nucleic acids sensors and applied to the detection of many foodborne hazardous substances, such as foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins, residual antibiotics, residual pesticides, industrial pollutants, heavy metals, and allergens. Finally, the potential opportunities and broad prospects of functional nucleic acids biosensors in the field of food analysis are discussed.

Synthesis of a Porous [14]Annulene Graphene Nanoribbon and a Porous [30]Annulene Graphene Nanosheet on Metal Surfaces.

The electrical and mechanical properties of graphene-based materials can be tuned by the introduction of nanopores, which are sensitively related to the size, morphology, density, and location of nanopores. The synthesis of low-dimensional graphene nanostructures containing well-defined nonplanar nanopores has been challenging due to the intrinsic steric hindrance. Herein, we report the selective synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) containing periodic nonplanar [14]annulene pores on Ag(111) and two-dimensional (2D) porous graphene nanosheet containing periodic nonplanar [30]annulene pores on Au(111), starting from a same precursor. The formation of distinct products on the two substrates originates from the different thermodynamics and kinetics of coupling reactions. The reaction mechanisms were confirmed by a series of control experiments, and the appropriate thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for optimizing the reaction pathways were proposed. In addition, the combined scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the electronic structures of porous graphene structures, demonstrating the impact of nonplanar pores on the π-conjugation of molecules.